BOSTON MARATHON: Hingham man running on team honoring Martin Richard

The Richard family established the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation (Team MR8) to honor Martin's message of peace by investing in education, athletics and community.

Among those representing Team MR8 in the 2014 Boston Marathon is Raymond Childs, 36.

Martin W. Richard was an 8-year-old boy killed in the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013.

The Richard family established the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation (Team MR8) to honor Martin’s message of peace by investing in education, athletics and community.

Among those representing Team MR8 in the 2014 Boston Marathon is Raymond Childs, 36.

“I am humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to represent the Foundation in the 118th Boston Marathon as a member of Team MR8,” Childs said.

Childs lives in Hingham with his wife, Erin and two daughters (Morgan 5, Riley 2). “As a father, I cannot begin to imagine what the Richard family has gone through. Their strength in turning something so tragic into a means to help others is truly inspiring,” he said.

“The world would be a much better place if there were more people like Martin and the Richard family. With the help of others, we can honor Martin’s legacy, spread his message of peace and help the Foundation fulfill its mission,” Childs said.

In the days after the bombing, a picture of Martin holding a handmade poster that reads, “No more hurting people – Peace” went global. Martin is viewed as a symbol of peace by many. Martin’s view of peace went beyond simply preventing violence. To Martin, peace meant things like togetherness, teamwork, fairness, sportsmanship, inclusion, and the prevention of bullying.

Martin loved learning, sports and the world around him. He participated in the BAA Children’s Relay on Marathon weekend for three consecutive years. He was a school peacemaker and recognized at a young age that while we are all different, we are all the same. The way Martin saw the world, anything was possible.